Enjoying God

The Westminster Catechism asks: What is chief end of man? The answer: "The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever."

Most of us have some sense of what it means to glorify God and we have at least a conceptual understanding of “forever” But, what does it mean to “enjoy” God?

According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary enjoy is defined as:

1 : to have for one's use, benefit, or lot : EXPERIENCE

2 : to take pleasure or satisfaction in

Is it possible that this is what Dr. Cornelius Burges, Assessor to the Westminster Assembly had in mind when they wrote this Catechism back in 1646? Could it be that they actually meant that one of our primary purposes, one of the main reasons for our existence was to experience and take pleasure in God?

My opinion is YES!

I believe that God created us for the purpose of intimate relationship, a mutually beneficial interaction between us and Him. The bible is replete with relational language. We referred to as God’s sons, daughters, children and bride. All are descriptions of close family relationships.

In Saint Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he prays:

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-21)

Wow, what powerfully intimate language. In verse 19 Paul prays that we would “know this love that surpasses knowledge”. The Greek word used here is “ginosko”. Strong’s concordance defines it as a “Jewish idiom for sexual intercourse between a man and a woman”. Now that’s an intimate, pleasurable experiential knowledge.

So, when was the last time you enjoyed God? When was the last time you and he played together? Maybe it’s time now?

Lord, I’m convinced that you created us to know you by experience. I ask you for just that. I ask that I may fulfill the purpose for which I was created – that I may glorify you and enjoy you forever through intimate personal experiences, amen.

Copyright © Tom Zawacki 2006

* Picture is a portrait of the Westminster Assembly, artist unknown